Grokster vs. Guns or How Big Money can Stymie Simple Logic

I've recently been turned onto a liberal blog called The Daily Kos. And while he is biased against blogspot blogs (he thinks bloggers should have their own unique identity... sure if I had more time and less ADD - until then I'll stick with the convenience) his blog is well-written, fiery (definitely not for apathetic liberals/dems - certainly not for conservatives/self-haters etc) and constantly updated. I'm sure this isn't a new thing for most people but I stumbled on it and now I am hooked. He had a story today by another libber named Radical Russ (his site is a little more out there - I'm undecided on it, but I liked the following story)

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/26/2160/13925 - Did you hear about the recent Supreme Court decision AGAINST Grokster (the online P2P filesharing service). To sum it up - Grokster was held liable for damages by the recording industry b/c the court agreed with the plantiff's argument that the software was designed to facilitate illegal file swapping because the company was fully aware it would be used inappropriately for this purpose. Here is the best part - I believe that the comparison with handguns is not only excellent by logically sound. Said Russ:

"Got that? If a company makes a product that is inappropriately used to illegally copy a movie, that company is liable. If a company makes a product that is inappropriately used to illegally kill a human, that company is not liable. What's the common logic holding these disparate concepts together?"

It is as simple as that - now mind you every guntoting conservative out there will throw up all kinds of emotional/constitutional/rhetorical arguments to defend their need to keep their precious guns. But (and God forbid) there was ever a LOGICAL debate (i.e. based on accepted premises of logic) who would win? Exactly.

The gunmakers have more money and lobbyists than the little indie firm (Grokster) and therefore they can sidestep logic and prevent laws from being passed against them. Big problem.

Fight back. If we have to be part of a BS lobbying system, then we need to step up the cashflow to ensure the opposing view is heard. No more theory, the rules are set - if you have to pay to play then I'm paying (and have been for some time now, years back I would have NEVER paid money for political causes). Like what you hear? More links below. Don't like it? See the red button with the X at the top right corner of your screen?

True Majority - Founded by Ben Cohen of the ice cream fame
People for the American Way - Fighting to keep the Supreme Court balanced
Lambda Legal - My favourite charity. Legal aid for GLBT citizens. They successfully argued
for the Lawrence v. Texas sodomy case. Focused on changing the judicial branch of government.
Human Rights Campaign - HQ'd down the street from me in DC. Largest GLBT rights group focused on legislative issues.
ACLU - The classic defenders of civil liberties, needed now more than ever.

This post may not have a funny spin, my drunken antics or the word IGNANT but we must remain vigilant (as much as politics are depressing!) or else we risk losing more rights and freedoms. Get involved, donate money if you can but for godsakes make a decision to get educated and form an opinion. Don't be a fence-sitter. "Sitting on the fence only widens the crack in your ass." -TOS (my original quote - I think I may make t-shirts up with that on it...)